Cultural Activities and Excursions

Guided sightseeing tour of Granada and of Madrid.

Social and Cultural program in Granada and in Madrid, (including trips to museums, historical and cultural sites, cinema, sporting events and other social gatherings and activities).

From Granada

Nerja
Nerja, which takes its name from the Arab Narija meaning "abundant fountain", nestles at the foothills of the Sierra de Tejada mountain range and boasts 16 kilometres of coastline with seven beaches within walking distance of the town. The town's most famous feature is its Balcon de Europa (Balcony of Europe)- a wide palm-fringed promenade built on the cliff top on the site of the old Moorish castle

Seville
The city overflows with the romantic gaiety and theatrical intensity of life synonymous with Andalucian culture. Whilst the wonderful architectural monuments the cathedral and Giralda, and the Alcazar with its beautiful gardens, are a must see, it is wandering the narrow colourful streets of the Barrio de Santa Cruz where the real Seville experience is to be had.

From Madrid

Segovia/Avila
Segovia was an important military town in roman times; under the Moors in the Middle Ages it became a wool town and industrial centre – by the 15C it numbered 60,000 citizens and had entered its golden age.

Today, Segovia is famous for its outstanding monuments including the beautiful Alcazar, which Spaniards claim as the model for Disneyland’s sleeping beauty castle, and its gastronomic specialities like the exquisite suckling pig (cochinillo asado)

Avila, “Cuidad de cantos, ciudad de santos” (city of stones, city of saints) is surrounded by one and a half miles of magnificently preserved medieval walls. It is Spain’s highest provincial capital, situated on one of the plateaux of the Meseta at 1,1,31m/3,710 ft. Avila, birthplace of St Teresa (1515-1582) has long been marked by the saint’s strong personality; her spirit pervades the entire town.

El Escorial/Valley of the Fallen
El Escorial, the royal palace, is just northwest of Madrid. It was founded in the 16th century by Philip II of Spain. It incorporates a cathedralesque church, a monastery, a school, and a famous library, and reflects the deeply pious outlook of its founder. The vast complex, said to 100 miles of corridors, was constructed between 1563 and 1584.

A few miles away stands a gigantic civil war memorial built by General Franco. Known as the Valle de los Caidos (Valley of the Fallen), it took more than 15 years to complete. It consists of a concrete cross nearly 500 feet high, built on top of a huge crypt tunnelled out of solid granite inside the mountain itself.

Portugal Trip (Itinerary Coming Soon)

Itinerary
Transfer to Faro, Portugal: Sunday, October 19, 2008
Transfer to Lisbon, Portugal: Tuesday, October, 21, 2008
Transfer to Madrid, Spain: Friday, October 24, 2008